Lake of the Woods Democratic Club

Journalist Jeff Schapiro congratulated local Democrats on their impressive victories in the the fall elections, but was careful to warn them not to get “too cocky.” Schapiro, a scholar from the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, regaled attendees at the club’s annual holiday luncheon with anecdotes about his long experience as an observer of Old Dominion politics and his expectations for the success of Abigail Spanberger as Virginia’s first woman governor. More than 80 people attended the gala event at the Old House Vineyard in Culpeper County and saw a new slate of club officers be elected for the 2026 calendar year.

Jeff Schapiro, one of Virginia’s most experienced and knowledgeable political observers, will address Lake of the Woods Democrats  at their annual Holiday Luncheon on December 11.

The festive year-end event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the Kearney Pub at Old House Vineyards, 18351 Corkys Lane in Culpeper. Tickets for the luncheon cost $25 per person and can be purchased online. More information is available on this web page. Reservations must be made and payment received no later than Dec. 1.

Earlier this year, Schapiro joined the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia as a Center Scholar. The non-partisan Center for Politics promotes the value of politics and the importance of civic engagement. It operates on the principle that “government works better when politics works better, and politics works better when citizens are informed and involved participants.” The center was founded in 1998 by professor and political analyst Larry Sabato.

For nearly 45 years Schapiro was a political reporter for United Press International, Virginia Business magazine,  and The Richmond Times-Dispatch,  earning him a statewide reputation as one of the Commonwealth’s most respected journalists.  His years on the beat — as a reporter and a columnist — parallel Virginia’s emergence as a competitive state prized by both political parties as well as the nationalization of its politics.

In 2015 Schapiro was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture. He is also a member of the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association Hall of Fame.

Schapiro has spoken about Virginia politics at colleges and universities across the Commonwealth and before civic, professional and business organizations. He has appeared on C-SPAN, BBC, NPR and American cable news outlets and podcasts.

Since 2001, he has appeared Friday mornings on Virginia public radio, most recently on Roanoke-based Radio IQ, In partnership with commentator Michael Pope he appears regularly on Virginia Public Radio.

Schapiro is a native of New York City and a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s degree in history.

He and his wife, Clare, a food and culture writer for several Virginia newspapers and magazines, were married in Richmond in 1988 by Virginia Supreme Court Justice John Charles Thomas. They are the parents of an adult son.

UVa’s Center for Politics

Pope & Schapiro Radio Program